U.S. patent application number 15/079592 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-23 for method for sensitively and selectively sensing sugars using terahertz electromagnetic waves and device used therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Invention is credited to Young-Min JHON, Chul-Ki KIM, Jae-Hun KIM, Dong-Kyu LEE, Taik-Jin LEE, Min-Ah SEO.
Application Number | 20170079563 15/079592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58276257 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170079563 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEO; Min-Ah ; et
al. |
March 23, 2017 |
METHOD FOR SENSITIVELY AND SELECTIVELY SENSING SUGARS USING
TERAHERTZ ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AND DEVICE USED THEREFOR
Abstract
Disclosed herein are a method and a device for sensing sugars,
using terahertz electromagnetic waves. By the method, even a trace
amount of sugars in a liquid state can be accurately discriminated
and sensed, with high sensitivity and selectivity, using a sensing
chip that works in a terahertz electromagnetic wave band. Using the
method, sugars even at low concentrations can be accurately
analyzed with high sensitivity and selectivity in which terahertz
electromagnetic waves are irradiated onto sugars through a sensing
chip having a meta unit in which a pattern is formed to amplify a
frequency corresponding to an absorption frequency of a sugar of
interest.
Inventors: |
SEO; Min-Ah; (Seoul, KR)
; LEE; Dong-Kyu; (Seoul, KR) ; KIM; Jae-Hun;
(Seoul, KR) ; KIM; Chul-Ki; (Seoul, KR) ;
LEE; Taik-Jin; (Seoul, KR) ; JHON; Young-Min;
(Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
58276257 |
Appl. No.: |
15/079592 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/0507 20130101;
A61B 5/14532 20130101; A61B 2560/0412 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/1455 20060101
A61B005/1455; A61B 5/145 20060101 A61B005/145 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 23, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0134858 |
Claims
1. A method for sensitively and selectively sensing sugars, using a
sensing chip, wherein the sensing chip has a meta unit in which a
pattern is formed for amplifying a frequency corresponding to an
absorption frequency of a sugar of interest, and wherein the
sensing chip, when irradiated with terahertz electromagnetic waves,
passes the waves therethrough to the sugar of interest and
amplifies waves reflected from the sugar of interest, whereby the
sugar of interest can be analyzed for kind and concentration even
when it is present at a low concentration.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises: a target
preparation step in which the sugar of interest is distributed on a
sensing chip having a meta unit in which a pattern is formed for
selectively amplifying a specific frequency; a light irradiation
step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves are irradiated to the
sugar of interest on the meta unit; and a sugar determination step
in which the terahertz electromagnetic waves passing through the
sensing chip are measured for transmittance or frequency change to
specify sugars and to determine concentrations of the specified
sugars.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises: a chip
disposition step in which the sensing chip having a meta unit in
which a pattern is formed for selectively amplifying a specific
frequency is positioned on the skin beneath which a vessel runs; a
light irradiation step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves are
irradiated onto the vessel through the sensing chip; and a sugar
determination step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves that
are reflected from blood of the vessel and pass through the sensing
chip are measured for transmittance or frequency change to specify
sugars and to determine concentrations of the specified sugars.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the sugar determination step is
adapted to measure the terahertz electromagnetic waves passing
through the meta unit for transmittance or frequency change thus to
specify sugars and to determine concentrations of the specified
sugars, based on the fact that transmittance or a frequency change
is elevated when the absorption frequency of a target sugar
corresponds to the resonant transmission frequency of the meta
unit.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the pattern is in a form of
slits, each penetrating through the meta unit.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the slits ranges in width
from 10 nm to 1 um, in thickness from 100 nm to 1 um, and in length
from 10 um to 1 mm.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the pattern is an array of slits
that is formed at regular gaps in the meta unit.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the slits in the array are
arranged at regular gaps of 1 nm to 1 mm in a widthwise direction
and 1 nm to 1 mm in a lengthwise direction.
9. A device for sensing sugars, using the sensing chip used in the
method of claim 2.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the sensing chip comprises: a
transparent substrate that transmits terahertz electromagnetic
waves therethrough; and a meta unit, positioned on one side of the
substrate, in which a pattern is formed to selectively amplify a
frequency of interest.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the pattern is in a form of
slits, each penetrating through the meta unit.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein each of the slits ranges in
width from 10 nm to 1 um, in thickness from 100 nm to 1 um, and in
length from 10 um to 1 mm.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the pattern is an array of
slits that is formed at regular gaps in the meta unit.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the slits in the array are
arranged at regular gaps of 1 nm to 1 mm in a widthwise direction
and 1 nm to 1 mm in a lengthwise direction.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2015-0134858 filed on Sep. 23, 2015.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for
sensing sugars, using terahertz electromagnetic waves.
Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method by which
even a trace amount of sugars in a liquid state can be accurately
discriminated and sensed, with high sensitivity and selectivity,
using a sensing chip that works in a terahertz electromagnetic wave
band, and to a device therefor. More particularly, the present
disclosure relates to a method for accurately analyzing sugars even
at low concentrations, with high sensitivity and selectivity, in
which terahertz electromagnetic waves are irradiated onto sugars
through a sensing chip having a meta unit in which a pattern is
formed to amplify a frequency corresponding to an absorption
frequency of a sugar of interest, and a device therefor.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] For treatment, management, or diagnosis of diabetes, one of
the most common diseases in people, precise measurement of blood
sugar levels is very important. Unable to discriminate various
kinds of sugars (e.g., sucrose, fructose, etc.) ingested along with
foods, most of the currently used devices frequently output
erroneous measurements of blood sugar levels before and after
meals. As a solution to this problem, highly sensitive sensors for
measuring blood sugar levels have been developed as described in
the following patent document.
Patent Document
[0006] Korean Patent Unexamined Application Publication No.
10-2003-0004933 (issued Jan. 15, 2003) "Glucose Strip Sensor and
Glucose Measurement Method by the Strip Sensor"
[0007] The selective measurement of sugars has been suggested in
order to sense blood sugar levels with high sensitivity. However,
the selective measurement of sugars is very difficult to achieve
because various sugars are similar in molecular structure. For
this, conventional sensors for measuring blood sugar levels are
adapted to employ highly concentrated samples. This, however, means
that a blood sample should be concentrated to a very high degree
(100-fold or higher), compared to an actual blood level.
Accordingly, there is an increasing need for an apparatus and a
method by which precise blood sugar levels can be selectively
measured even at a concentration as low as in an actual blood
condition without conventional concentration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and an object
of the present disclosure is to provide a method by which even a
trace amount of sugars in a liquid state can be accurately
discriminated and sensed, with high sensitivity and selectivity,
using a sensing chip that works in a terahertz electromagnetic wave
band, and a device therefor.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a
method for accurately analyzing sugars even at low concentrations,
with high sensitivity and selectivity, in which terahertz
electromagnetic waves are irradiated onto sugars through a sensing
chip having a meta unit in which a pattern is formed to amplify a
frequency corresponding to an absorption frequency of a sugar of
interest, and a device therefor.
[0010] In order to accomplish the above objects, a method and a
device for sensitively and selectively sensing sugars using
terahertz electromagnetic waves, have the following
constitutions.
[0011] An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for
sensitively and selectively sensing sugars, using a sensing chip,
wherein the sensing chip has a meta unit in which a pattern is
formed for amplifying a frequency corresponding to an absorption
frequency of a sugar of interest, and wherein the sensing chip,
when irradiated with terahertz electromagnetic waves, passes the
waves therethrough to the sugar of interest and amplifies waves
reflected from the sugar of interest, whereby the sugar of interest
can be analyzed for kind and concentration even when it is present
at a low concentration.
[0012] In a particular embodiment, the method comprises: a target
preparation step in which the sugar of interest is distributed on a
sensing chip having a meta unit in which a pattern is formed for
selectively amplifying a specific frequency; a light irradiation
step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves are irradiated to the
sugar of interest on the meta unit; and a sugar determination step
in which the terahertz electromagnetic waves passing through the
sensing chip are measured for transmittance or frequency change to
specify sugars and to determine concentrations of the specified
sugars.
[0013] In another particular embodiment, the method comprises: a
chip disposition step in which the sensing chip having a meta unit
in which a pattern is formed for selectively amplifying a specific
frequency is positioned on the skin beneath which a vessel runs; a
light irradiation step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves are
irradiated onto the vessel through the sensing chip; and a sugar
determination step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves that
are reflected from blood of the vessel and pass through the sensing
chip are measured for transmittance or frequency change to specify
sugars and to determine concentrations of the specified sugars.
[0014] In the method according to some particular embodiments, the
sugar determination step is adapted to measure the terahertz
electromagnetic waves passing through the meta unit for
transmittance or frequency change thus to specify sugars and to
determine concentrations of the specified sugars, based on the fact
that transmittance or a frequency change is elevated when the
absorption frequency of a target sugar corresponds to the resonant
transmission frequency of the meta unit.
[0015] In the method according to some particular embodiments, the
pattern is in a form of slits, each penetrating through the meta
unit.
[0016] In the method according to some particular embodiments, each
of the slits ranges in width 10 nm to 1 um, in thickness from 100
nm to 1 um, and in length from 10 um to 1 mm.
[0017] In the method according to some particular embodiments, the
pattern is an array of slits that is formed at regular gaps in the
meta unit.
[0018] In the method according to some particular embodiments, the
slits in the array are arranged at regular gaps of 1 nm to 1 mm in
a widthwise direction and 1 nm to 1 mm in a lengthwise
direction.
[0019] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a device
for sensing sugars, using the sensing chip used in the method of
any one of claims 1 to 3.
[0020] In the device according to some embodiments, the sensing
chip comprises: a transparent substrate that transmits terahertz
electromagnetic waves therethrough; and a meta unit, positioned on
one side of the substrate, in which a pattern is formed to
selectively amplify a frequency of interest.
[0021] In the device according to some embodiments, the pattern is
in a form of slits, each penetrating through the meta unit.
[0022] In the device according to some embodiments, each of the
slits ranges in width 10 nm to 1 um, in thickness from 100 nm to 1
um, and in length from 10 um to 1 mm.
[0023] In the device according to some embodiments, the pattern is
an array of slits that is formed at regular gaps in the meta
unit.
[0024] In the device according to some embodiments, the slits in
the array are arranged at regular gaps of 1 nm to 1 mm in a
widthwise direction and 1 nm to 1 mm in a lengthwise direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a method for sensing sugars in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a view showing absorption spectra in a terahertz
frequency band of various sugars;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sensing chip used in a
method for sensing sugars in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a graph showing measurement results of fructose
obtained by using the sensing method of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a graph showing measurement results of glucose
obtained by using the sensing method of FIG. 1; and
[0031] FIG. 6 is a graph explaining a method of specifying a sugar
and determining a concentration of the specified sugar using the
sensing method of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Below, a description will be given of some embodiments of
the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Unless otherwise defined, the meaning of all terms
including technical and scientific terms used herein is the same as
that commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to
which the present invention belongs. It will be further understood
that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries,
should be interpreted as having a meaning which is consistent with
their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present
disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly
formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. It should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that although many specified
elements such as concrete components are elucidated in the
following description, they are intended to aid the general
understanding of the invention and the present invention can be
implemented without the specified elements. Further, in the
description of the present invention, when it is determined that
the detailed description of the related art would obscure the gist
of the present disclosure, the description thereof will be omitted.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the
description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and
the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an
exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of
"including, but not limited to."
[0033] The present disclosure addresses a method for sensitively
and selectively sensing sugars using terahertz electromagnetic
waves. The method is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1
to 6. The method is adapted to accurately analyze sugars in a
liquid state even at low concentrations, with high sensitivity and
selectivity, in which terahertz electromagnetic waves (hereinafter
referred to as "terawaves") are irradiated onto sugars through a
sensing chip having a meta unit in which a pattern is formed to
amplify a frequency corresponding to an absorption frequency of a
sugar of interest.
[0034] As described above, it is very difficult to selectively
measure concentrations of sugars because of their structural
similarity. In the present disclosure, a sensing chip 1 having a
meta unit 11 in which patterns are formed to amplify an absorption
frequency of a sugar of interest is used to irradiate terawaves
onto sugars in respective low concentrations and to selectively
measure the concentration of the sugar of interest. Sugars are
slightly different in molecular formula from one to another so that
they show respective characteristic absorption spectra in a
terahertz frequency band. As shown in FIG. 2, sugars have
absorption peaks at their on characteristic frequencies. For
example, absorption peaks are read at 1.43 THz for D-glucose, found
in blood, at 1.8 THz for sucrose, found in foods, and at 1.7 THz
for fructose, found in beverages. To selectively measure the
concentration of a sugar of interest even when its concentration is
low, the present disclosure takes advantage of the fact that sugars
exhibit respective characteristic absorption peaks in a terahertz
frequency band. In this regard, a meta unit 11 is designed such
that it transmits terawaves and amplifies a frequency corresponding
to the characteristic absorption frequency of a sugar of interest.
Based on this principle, a target in a liquid state can be
selectively measured among various sugars, and can be
quantitatively analyzed even at a low concentration.
[0035] Now, a description will be given of a device useful in the
method for sensing sugars. The device comprises a sensing chip 1
having a meta unit 11 that works in a terawave range, an irradiator
(not shown) for irradiating terawaves onto the sensing chip 1, a
detector (not shown) for measuring a transmittance and/or a
frequency change of the terawaves passing through the sensing chip
1 to specify sugars and to determine concentrations of the
specified sugars.
[0036] The sensing chip 1 is configured to work in a terawave
range, and comprises a meta unit 11 in which a pattern is formed to
selectively amplify a frequency of interest, and a transparent
substrate 12 for supporting the meta unit 11.
[0037] The meta unit 11 is configured to have a pattern 111 for
selectively amplifying a frequency of interest. For example, the
pattern 111 may be an array of slits that is formed at regular gaps
in the meta unit, each penetrating through the meta unit, as shown
in FIG. 3. The meta unit 11 may be preferably made of a metallic
material, such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, etc. In the
pattern 111, the slits are constant in shape, size, and gap
(hereinafter referred to as "spec"). Preferably, the slits range in
width from (w) 10 nm to 1 um, in thickness (t) from 100 nm to 1 um,
and in length (1) from 10 um to 1 mm, with gaps of 1 nm to 1 mm
therebetween in both the widthwise direction (d1) and the
lengthwise direction (d2). The sensing chip 1 may be designed to
amplify a specific frequency by adjusting the material of the meta
unit 11 and/or the spec of the pattern 111 to set the resonance
transmission frequencies of the sensing chip 1. Concrete examples
are described, below.
[0038] In a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, the
substrate 12, positioned beneath one side of the meta unit 11 to
support the meta unit 11, is made of a transparent material, such
as quartz, silicon, sapphire, glass, etc.
[0039] The irradiator irradiates onto the sensing chip 1 terahertz
electromagnetic waves with a frequency of, for example, 0.1 to 5
THz. The detector is provided for measuring a transmittance and/or
a frequency change of the terawaves passing through the sensing
chip 1 to specify sugars and to determine concentrations of the
specified sugars. After the sensing chip 1 is positioned on the
skin beneath which a vessel runs or a sample is loaded on the meta
unit 11 of the sensing chip 1, terawaves are irradiated from the
irradiator onto the sensing chip 1, and the detector measures the
transmittance or frequency change of the terawaves passing through
the sensing chip 1 to specify sugars and to determine
concentrations of the specified sugars.
[0040] Turning to the method for sensing sugars using the device
described above, it comprises a target preparation step in which a
sugar of interest is distributed on a sensing chip 1 having a meta
unit 11 in which a pattern is formed for selectively amplifying a
specific frequency, a light irradiation step in which terahertz
electromagnetic waves are irradiated to the sugar of interest on
the meta unit 11, and a sugar determination step in which the
terahertz electromagnetic waves passing through the sensing chip 1
are measured for transmittance or frequency change to specify
sugars and to determine concentrations of the specified sugars.
[0041] The target preparation step is a step in which a sugar of
interest (sample) is distributed on the sensing chip 1 having the
meta unit 11 in which a pattern is formed for selectively
amplifying a specific frequency. Sugars to be analyzed are
distributed on the meta unit 11 of the sensing chip 1 through which
a resonant transmission frequency corresponding to the absorption
frequency of a sugar of interest is emitted. In the target
preparation step, for example, if fructose is a target sugar, a
sample such as a blood, a beverage, etc., is placed on the meta
unit 11 of the sensing chip 1 from which a resonant transmission
frequency identical or corresponding to the absorption frequency
(1.7 THz) of fructose. To measure the concentration of D-glucose in
a sample, a sample is distributed on the meta unit 11 of the
sensing chip 1 from which a resonant transmission frequency
corresponding to the absorption frequency of glucose (1.43 THz) is
emitted. As mentioned above, the resonant transmission frequency of
the sensing chip 1 can be readily adjusted according to the pattern
of the meta unit 11. In the target preparation step, samples are
placed on sensing chips 1 that are respectively designed according
to sugars to be analyzed.
[0042] In the light irradiation step, terahertz electromagnetic
waves are irradiated onto the sample (sugars) on the meta unit 11.
In this regard, the irradiator emits a terawave with a frequency of
0.1 to 5 THz.
[0043] In the sugar determination step, the terahertz
electromagnetic waves passing through the sensing chip 1 are
measured for transmittance or frequency change to specify sugars
and to determine concentrations of the specified sugars. Based on
the fact that transmittance or frequency change is elevated when
the absorption frequency of a target sugar corresponds to the
resonant transmission frequency of the meta unit, sugars can be
analyzed for kind and concentration. By way of example, a sensing
chip (substrate made of silicon 500 um thick, a meta unit made of
gold 130 nm thick, and a pattern 500 nm wide, 35 um long, and 140
nm thick) was manufactured to emit a resonant transmission
frequency corresponding to the absorption frequency of fructose,
and one drop of a sample (comprising a buffer (PBS) and 50, 100, or
1000 mg/dL fructose) was added onto the meta unit 11 of the sensing
chip 1. Then, terawaves were irradiated onto the sample, followed
by measuring the transmittance and frequency change of the
terawaves passing through the sensing chip 1. The measurement
results are depicted in FIG. 4 (in which NA accounts for terawaves
that were irradiated onto the sensing chip 1 with no samples placed
on the chip). As can be seen in FIG. 4, the transmittance and the
frequency vary with the concentration of fructose. In another
example, a sensing chip (substrate made of silicon 500 um thick, a
meta unit made of gold 130 nm thick, and a pattern 500 nm wide, 40
um long, and 130 nm thick) was manufactured to emit a resonant
transmission frequency corresponding to the absorption frequency of
D-glucose, and one drop of a sample (comprising a buffer (PBS) and
50, 100, or 1000 mg/dL glucose) was added onto the meta unit 11 of
the sensing chip 1. Then, terawaves were irradiated onto the
sample, followed by measuring the transmittance and frequency
change of the terawaves passing through the sensing chip 1. The
measurement results are depicted in FIG. 5. As can be seen in FIG.
5, the transmittance and the frequency vary with the concentration
of glucose. In a further example, a sensing chip was manufactured
to emit a resonant transmission frequency corresponding to the
absorption frequency of fructose, and one drop of a sample
(comprising fructose and cellulose, each ranging in concentration
from 0 to 500 mg/dL, plus a buffer (PBS)) was added onto the meta
unit 11 of the sensing chip 1. Then, terawaves were irradiated onto
the sample, followed by measuring the transmittance and frequency
change of the terawaves passing through the sensing chip 1. Results
of transmittance change (.DELTA.T) x frequency position (peak)
shift (.DELTA.f) are plotted against concentrations, and are
depicted in FIG. 6. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the waves emitted
from the sensing chip 1 exhibit large transmittance changes and
frequency shifts in correspondence to the absorption frequency of
fructose. For cellulose, only very small transmittance changes and
frequency shifts are observed because the waves emitted from the
sensing chip 1 do not correspond to the absorption frequency of
cellulose. Accordingly, when terawaves are irradiated onto a sample
placed on a sensing chip that can emit a resonant transmission
frequency corresponding to an absorption frequency of a target
sugar, a specific terawave is amplified from the sensing chip, with
the concomitant generation of a large transmittance change and
frequency shift. In addition, the transmittance and the frequency
vary with the concentration of the sugar of interest. Thus, the
magnitude of the transmittance and frequency shift of the terawave
detected from the sensing chip allows for determining the kind and
concentration of the sugar.
[0044] Capable of detecting even several micromoles of a subject in
a liquid state, the method for sensing sugars is very sensitive.
For example, a normal person has a blood sugar concentration of 100
mg/dL, which is converted into a molar concentration of about 5.5
mM, while a diabetes patient has a blood sugar concentration of as
high as 200 mg/dL, which is converted into a molar concentration of
11.0 mM. Hence, a blood can be used, as it is, in measuring measure
blood sugar levels by the sensing method of the present disclosure.
In addition, the sensing method can selectively measure
concentrations of as high as tens to hundreds mM of fructose and
artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K, etc.) in
commercially available beverages. That is, the method can be used
to measure very low concentration of sugars in foods such as
beverages.
[0045] In accordance with another embodiment thereof, the present
disclosure addresses a method for sensing sugars, comprising a chip
disposition step in which the sensing chip 1 having a meta unit 11
provided with a pattern for selectively amplifying a specific
frequency is positioned on the skin beneath which a vessel runs, a
light irradiation step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves are
irradiated onto the vessel through the sensing chip, and a sugar
determination step in which terahertz electromagnetic waves that
are reflected from blood of the vessel and pass through the sensing
chip 1 are measured for transmittance or frequency change to
specify sugars and to determine concentrations of the specified
sugars. From the aforementioned method in which a sample (sugars)
is dropped on the meta unit 11 and terawaves are irradiated,
followed by detecting the transmittance and frequency shift of the
terawaves passing the sensing chip 1, this method is different only
in the steps of positioning the sensing chip 1 on the skin beneath
which a vessel runs, irradiating terawaves the vessel through the
sensing chip 1, and detecting the transmittance and frequency shift
of terawaves that are reflected from the blood of the vessel
through the sensing chip 1 so as to specify a sugar and to
determine the concentration of the specified sugar. The two methods
are based on the same principle that a sensing chip from which a
resonant transmission frequency corresponding to an absorption
frequency of a sugar of interest can be emitted is utilized to
specify a sugar and determine the concentration of the sugar
through the amplification of terawaves. Hence, a detailed
description relevant to the principle is omitted.
[0046] As described in the foregoing embodiments and constitutional
elements of the present disclosure, and their combinations, the
present invention enjoys the following advantages.
[0047] The method and device according to the present invention can
accurately discriminate and sense even a trace amount of sugars in
a liquid state, with high sensitivity and selectivity, using a
sensing chip that works in a terahertz electromagnetic wave
band.
[0048] Also, capable of irradiating terahertz electromagnetic waves
onto sugar through a sensing chip having a meta unit in which a
pattern is formed to amplify a frequency corresponding to an
absorption frequency of a sugar of interest, the method and device
according to the present invention can accurately analyzing sugars
even at low concentrations, with high sensitivity and
selectivity.
[0049] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *